The White House announced this week that 18 countries have formally submitted trade proposals to the United States, as President Donald Trump’s administration aggressively pursues new global trade deals. In addition to these proposals, over 100 countries have reportedly expressed interest in forming or expanding trade relationships with the U.S., signaling what the administration sees as growing global acceptance of Trump’s trade strategy.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the administration’s progress and momentum during a press briefing on Tuesday. “There is a lot of progress being made,” Leavitt said. “We now have 18 proposals on paper that have been brought to the trade team. Again, these are proposals on paper that countries have proposed to the Trump administration and to our government.”
Leavitt said that members of the trade team, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, and senior trade adviser Peter Navarro, have been working intensively to review these offers and hold talks with countries across the globe.
“You have Secretary Bessent, Secretary Lutnick, Ambassador Greer, NEC Director Hassett and Peter Navarro, the entire trade team meeting with 34 countries this week alone,” she said. “We are moving at Trump speed to ensure these deals are made on behalf of the American worker and the American people.”
Trade Frameworks Taking Shape with India and Japan
While the administration has not yet named all 18 countries that submitted proposals, Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the United States and India have reached a “terms of reference” agreement, setting the foundation for a broader trade deal. During his trip to New Delhi, Vance met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish a framework for future negotiations.
Leavitt criticized the media for failing to adequately cover this development. “It seemed to get a little bit lost in the news, and I think it’s a disservice to the American public that it did,” she said. “The vice president announced terms of reference for a trade deal with India. That is a big deal.”
She also stressed that India has long imposed what she described as unfair barriers to U.S. trade. “They have been ripping off the United States and American workers for a very long time,” she said. “So, the fact that the vice president, with Prime Minister Modi on that trip in India, announced these terms of reference…is great progress.”
Japan is also reportedly close to reaching an interim agreement with the United States, although no official details have been released.
China Deal in the Works Despite Tariffs
The White House also signaled cautious optimism about a potential trade deal with China, even as current tariffs remain high. President Trump imposed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods as part of his broader effort to rebalance trade relationships and pressure China to crack down on fentanyl exports. In response, China imposed 125 percent tariffs on American imports.
Despite the lack of direct talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Leavitt said discussions were moving in a positive direction. “I asked the president about this before coming out here, and he wanted me to share with all of you that we’re doing very well in respect to a potential trade deal with China,” she told reporters.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed this sentiment during a private investor summit, where he said he believes the standoff between the U.S. and China over tariffs is unsustainable. According to a source at the event, Bessent stated that “a deal is possible” and both sides appear to recognize the need to de-escalate.
President Trump, speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, addressed the issue directly. “I’m not going to say: ‘Oh, I’m going to play hardball with China,’ I’m going to play a hard ball with you, President Xi,” Trump said. He added that the 145 percent tariff “will not be anywhere near that number” in the final version of a trade deal.
Still, Trump made clear that China will not walk away from the negotiating table without making real concessions. “If they don’t want to make a deal, we’ll make one for them,” he said. “But I think we’re going to live together very happily and ideally work together. So I think it’s going to work out very well.”
Supporters Say the Strategy Is Working
Supporters of the administration argue that the recent wave of trade proposals validates Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy. They believe that by applying pressure on foreign governments, the U.S. has finally brought global players to the negotiation table on more favorable terms.
Leavitt described the process as a complete reset of the U.S. approach to trade. “We are setting the stage for a deal with China,” she said. “And we feel everyone involved wants to see a trade deal happen, and the ball is moving in the right direction.”
President Trump also highlighted the positive market reaction to his announcements. “We’re doing really well,” he said. “I see the stock market was up nicely. But this is a transition period, and it’s going to be a little while, but we are doing well with every country.”
Critics Raise Concerns Over Uncertainty and Inflation
While the administration projects confidence, critics argue that the long-term effects of the tariffs and global trade uncertainty could damage the economy. The International Monetary Fund recently lowered its growth forecasts for both the global and U.S. economies, citing trade tensions and policy unpredictability as key reasons.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell also warned that Trump’s tariffs could fuel inflation and put additional pressure on American consumers. Some economists say that while trade deals are important, using high tariffs as leverage may lead to unpredictable consequences.
Former trade officials have also expressed skepticism about the administration’s claims. “It’s easy to talk about ‘proposals on paper,’ but without seeing the terms, it’s hard to know if these are serious negotiations or just feel-good announcements,” one expert said.
A Critical Moment for American Trade
The Trump administration says the United States is in a “transition period” as it redefines its global trade relationships. President Trump insists the strategy is working, even if it takes time to see results.
In the weeks ahead, trade teams will continue meeting with dozens of countries. Whether these talks lead to formal agreements or stall in the face of global economic pressures remains to be seen. But for now, the White House is banking on the belief that other nations will come to the table—and that the U.S. is in a strong position to lead the terms.
